The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1887-08-04
THE TRAVELLING FAMILY.
It's Devastating March in a Trop.
ical Country.

Did you ever hear Of the Travelling
Family ? ASKED Colonel Brown.
1t was VIII 10 I was in Mexico.
amongst n Spanish-speaking people
who were very rude and even barbar-
Gus in their ways. and who neither
understood my speech. nor my mo-
tives for being where ! was. that first
heard of the travelling Family"
was living by myself in little
adobe hut. making sketches of the ma
tives and the scenery. and doing my
best to work up an article which
should interest people In that part OF
the country. felt quite sure that
those about me regarded me with
some suspicion, and were not friendly
to me, and doubted almost every
thing they said. for found them far
from truthful.
sat one evening over my fire, en-
gagged in cooking queer sort of mess
"a sort of stew In which garlic fig
ured largely, bet which did not find
unpalatable-and thinking that was
rather lonely. and that a friendly
caller would not be unpleasant. when
a little sound at my door startled me,
and turned to see an old man stand
ing there, dressed in the costume Of
the place, and seeming to convey to
me by wave of his hand that his in
tentions were amicable. Having been
so much alone, felt the value of any
token of good feeling, and arose and
invited the old man in.
My mess of pottage being ready,
begged him to share 1t; and he con-
sented After we had finished. he &C
cepted some cigars l offered him; and
shortly all the long wrinkles in his
mahogany-colored face became curves.
and he was as courteous as a Mexican
can be. He did not speak my Ian
guage but knew little of his, and
understood his compliments.
"A good dinner, a fine cigar, a gen.
tleman after his own heart; and this, "
he added. ''is very comfortable
home. 1t is pity. but come to say
that You must leave it. You must GO
away-oh! right away-and very far.
l come to tell you. Many said: Let
that man find out for himself but !
would not You must go. for the
Travel ng Family Is on Its way. 1t is
very close at hand. In three days il
will be here. Save yourself and your
possessions while you can. l 60 at
dawn. l have once been where the
Travelling Family visited. Iknow!"
1.-The Travelling Family" l cried.
why, who are these people that you
should be afraid of them7'
you do not know the Travelling
Family?' he asked well, never
make their acquaintance. Go early to.
morrow from this place. They are
coming, and they travel fast"
He arose and looked at me seriously.
s.The gentleman does not believe, "
he said.
'Oh, yes" said; Il believe. an
much obliged for the warning, but l dc
not feel afraid of any travelling family.
shall stay here"
To tell the truth, I simply thought
he was uttering a falsehood; that the
people wished me to leave the place,
and that he was their ambassador. He
wanted to brighten me, though what
bugbear the Travelling Family repre-.
sented had no idea.
I slept as usual and arose withou
anxiety; but before 1 was well into my
days work. woman came to my door,
and smiled upon me graciously.
The gentlemen is stranger" she
said He does not know the Travel
ing Family is coming. We are all go
ing. No one dares stay. Go. also. o.
you will be sorry"
/ thanked her, and she went he
way; but still did not believe that any
thing was about to happen, until saw
that in very truth my Mexican neigh
bors were making preparations for de
parture. They were packing thei
clothing In curious baskets, suspendin!
their kettles and pots from long stick!
which they carried between them Owe
their shoulders. Some loaded rhei
mules; some went on foot; but all wer
going
WAS the Travelling Family som
band of Indians?" asked myself, 80
robbers who were known to have n
mercy?"
At least had nothing to steal, and
had been in savage lands without get
ting into difficulties.
The Mexicans had warned me G
something they considered dangerous
They had not lied; but curiosity "a
the better of me, and resolved to sta
and see what 1t all meant. l kneN
that understood the language suff
GENTLY to interpret the words. Travel
ing Family was the correct definition
but of what did this family consist
Wild beasts did not march slowl
down upon village. Savages genel
ally made ambush. l knew of no Sol
of storm that could have such nam
bestowed upon it, and of no convul
sion of nature, and 1 intended TO wa
and see what would happen. G
course l asked some explanation, bu
all the answer could get was that tn
Travelling Family were coming, an
that we must all 60 at once.
Finally 1 watched them depart In III
tie groups, bewailing the necessity
leaving their homes, but quite unabl
to explain to me what it was the
dreaded.
l found myself alone at nightfal
but. though l used my glass. sa'
nothing in any direction to terrify me
1t was strange thing, however. to b
l,:ton% ~ I.,co~koA nj